Spring leaf bearing insert



Sept. 19, 1933.

c. A. TEA y 1,927,619

SPRING LEAF BEARING INSERT Filed Jan. 3, 1935 INVENTOR.

.LAAORK A. TEA.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 19, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENTI OFFICE 'SPRING LEAF 'BEARING nrsEE'r Clark A. Detroit, Mich., assigner to Chrysler Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware This invention relates to improved bearings for leaf springs and particularly to bearings of'this character for slidably supporting one ofa pair of adjacent spring leaves upon the other.

The main objects of the invention are to provide bearings in a leaf spring foi` reducing the frictional resistance to sliding of the leaves with respect to each other; to provide bearings of this kind which are adapted to be -installed in an initial absorbed lubricant content in leaf springv bearing inserts; and to provide` bearing material of this character which has a .substantially large exposed bearing surface engageable with the leaves of a spring. A

Other objects of the invention are to provide a retainer for the porous bearing material which has sharm-hardened, protruding edge portions that are adapted to dig into one of the spring' leaves between which the device is disposed 4so as to hold the latter against bodily movement relative to one of the spring leaves;l to provide means for holding the bearing device in place which does not'require theformation of apertures Y or the reduction of the cross-sectional area of the spring leaves at any location thereon; to provide a porous bearing material retainer which is formed of metal that is sufliciently flexible to' permit of bending of the entire bearing unit into conformity with the curvature of the springs; to provide means f or holdingthe porous bearing material and its retainer in a unitary assembled relation prior to and during installation thereof in a leaf spring; to provide a spring leaf bearing device having parts constructed and arranged vehicle chassis which is equipped with a spring having bearings thereon embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, transverse sectional viewl taken on the line II--II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing my improved Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side -elevation of a' spring leaf bearing as it appears from the outer side of the c losed extremity of the retainer.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view showing a part embodied in my improved spring' leaf bearing insert as it appearsin one stage prior to com- 00 pletion of its formation.

My improved spring leaf bearing inserts 10 are illustrated in conjunction with a conventional vehicle leaf spring 12 which is pivotally attached at one end directly to a chassis frame 14 by. an 65 oscillating joint 13 and pivotally connected thereto at its other en d'by a shackle 15. The intermediate-portion of the leaf spring 12 is rigidly fixed to an axle 16 by U-shaped clamping members 17 or other suitable means. 70

In the form shown, my improved spring leaf bearing'insert includes a shallow cup-shaped re-` l tainer 18 which is preferably formed of sheet metal, such as steel. The retainer 18, illustrated in the drawing, is ofcireuiar contour but it I5A may be Aformed in the shape of a rectangle or square or any other desired shape, and it is provided with a comparatively narrow side rim 19. The stock from which the retainer is made is preferably initially formed to the contour illustrated in Fig. 4 by a stamping operation 'dui-ing which it is provided with apertures 20.

The outer side 21 of the metal stock is 'case hardened or otherwise suitably hardened to a depth of from .005" to .01". After the hardening op eration, that portion of the metal stock surround@ ing the apertures 20 is punched outwardly so as y to provide substantially sharp hardened edge portions 22 on the-outer side of the closed extremity 23 of the retainer. l

Seated'in the retainer 18 is a disc shaped layer .of 'bearing material 24 which preferably -comprises a porous metal bearing. composition havingv a substantial lubricant absorbing capacity.' .Suitable bearing compositions of this character can beformed by mixing together powdered metals whichlfuse at dierent temperatures and com- .metal constituents and below the melting tem i perature of the other powderedmetal constituents. The layer of bearing material '24 isimmersed in a suitable lubricant and .then 'either pressed into or loosely fitted inthe retainerl.

The retainer 18 and bearing element 24 may be fixed together in an assembled relation by staking the edge of the rim 19 of theretainerat'spaced locations, as shownv at 25 Fig. 3. This operation maybe performed with a 'comparatively sharp pointed punch 26 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2. The punch 26vu'psets a portion ofthe metal of the edge of the rim 19 and drives the retainer '18 and bearing element 24 .together during and prior to assembling of the device between a pair of adjacent spring leaves 27 and 28.

My improved spring leaf be'arings may be installed in a vehicle spring. during assembling of the leaves thereof or they maybe inserted between pairs of adjacent leaves of a completely assembled spring while the spring is mounted in a vehicle chassis by merely spreading such leaves apart, with the aid of a wedge or screw driver. When' the wedge or screw driver is `removed the -pressure with whichl the leaves of the spring., are urged together causes the sharp hardened edge portions 22 of the. retainer to dig `into one of the adjacent surfaces of 'the spring leaves. The outer surface of the layer of bearing composition 24 is exposed for engagement with'the adjacent surface of the other spring leaf.

The pressure by which the spring leaves are urged together preventsv separation 'of the retainer and layer of vbearing composition and, in conjunction' with the sharp edge portions 22,

securely holds the bearing device. against movement relative to one of the leaf springs. The

- contacting relation between the other leaf spring and the exposed bearing surface of the lubricant filled porous metal 24 materially reduces friction between the adiacent spring leaves and prevents the creation of squeaking and other objectionable spring noises.

`retainer having means on its, outer extremity for cooperating with one of a pair of adjacent spring leaves to hold s aid bearing against displ? .ement relative thereto, and .a layer of bea ing material in said retainer having an exposed bearing'surface engageable' with the other of. said spring leaves.

2. A spring leaf bearing including a retainer comprising steel and having hardened protruding edges on its outer extremity for cooperating with one of a pair of spring leaves to hold said bearinr against displacement relative thereto, anda layer of bearing material in said retainer havf ing an exposedbearing surface engageable with the other of said spring leaves.

3. A spring leaf bearing. including a retainer 'comprising steel andhaving hardened protrud in'g edges on its outer extremity for cooperating -v with one of a pair of spring leaves to hold said bearing against displacement relative thereto,

4and a layer of porous metal having lubricant therein seated in said retainer vand havinga sub- Y stantial exposed bearing surface engageable with the other of said, pair of spring leaves.

i The sharp hardened edge portions 22 hold the bearings against displacement 4. Aspring leaf bearing including a shallow retainer having substantially sharp edge portions integral with and protruding from the outer extremity thereof and including a comparatively narrow side rim, and a layer ofbearing material in said retainer extending outwardly. with respect to the latter beyond said side rim, spaced portions of said side rim extendinginto the edge of said layer of bearing material to hold the latter and said retainer in assembled relation. 5. A spring leaf bearing including a shallow retainerhaving substantially sharp edge por.- tions integral with and protruding from the outer.extremity thereof and including a comparatively narrow lside rim,l and a layer of porous metal bearing material in said retainer comprising a compressed and sintered mixture of powdered metal and having a bearing portion extending outwardly from said retainer beyond the side rim thereof, spaced portions of said side rim extending into the edge portion of saidlayer of bearing material to hold the latter and said retainer in an assembled relation.

6. A spring leaf bearing including a shallow sheet steel retainer having an outer extremity provided with apertures' and having a comparatively narrow side rim, the metal lof said outer extremity surrounding said apertures being bulged outwardly to provide substantially sharp 10b protruding edges, and a layer of bearing metal seated in said retainer having a press ilt within said side rim and extending outwardly of said retainer beyond said side rim.

7. A spring leaf bearing including a shallow 110 sheet steel retainer having an-outer extremity provided with apertures, the metal surrounding said apertures being hardened and bulged outwardly to provide substantially sharp protruding edges,and a layer of porous metal bearing material having a comparatively large absorbed lubricant content seated in said retainer and having a press fit within said side rim and extendingoutwardly of said retainer beyond said side rim.

8. A leaf spring lubricating device including a 129 retainer having substantially sharp protruding elements on the outer surface of its end wall adapted to dig into one of a pair of spring leaves under the pressure with which said leaves are urged together, and a plate in said retainer having an exposed bearing surface engageable with the other of said pair of leaves, said plate' beling composed of an initially' lubricant saturated porous metal comprising sintered metal powders.

9. A -leaf spring lubricating device comprising unitary structure adapted to be inserted between a pair of adjacent leaves of a completely assembled'leaf spring including a shallow, cup like.

sheet metal receptacle having substantially sharp` protruding elements on the outer side of its end wall adapted to dig into one of said spring leaves under the pressure with which said leaves are urged together so as to hold said lubricating de- 'i vice against displacement relative to one of said leaves, said receptacle having a substantially tainer adjacent the opposite sidev thereof and having a bearing surface engageable with the other of said spring leaves.

11. A spring leaf bearing including a retainer comprising steel and having hard protruding edges on one side for cooperating with one of a pair of spring leaves to hold said bearing against 

